annieb123's Review of How to Write a Song that Matters

by Dar Williams

How to Write a Song That Matters is an invaluable guide to writing music by a woman who knows how to do it and do it well: iconic singer-songwriter, Dar Williams. For years now, Williams has led songwriting retreats for musicians, from beginners to professionals, in which she elevates the process of songwriting over the assessment of the product. This book makes those intimate experiences accessible for songwriters across the globe, gifting them with the insight Williams has gleaned from her decades of experience. First, it encourages songwriters to find something that inspires them and then to follow that inspiration, letting the clues of those first few notes or lines lead their narrative. Soon, the initial rhythms, the unique sounds of the melody, and/or specific vocabulary emerge, giving birth to a "voice" or a "world" that the song can exist in. As the writer proceeds, Williams encourages them to ask themselves: "Where did I go? Where did I REALLY go? What happened? What REALLY happened? What am I bringing back?"

There are many other songwriting guides that hint to the reader that writing a "hit song" may be on the horizon if only the reader correctly follows the guide or program. In this book, however, Williams shows readers how to tap into their OWN creative process, using their psyches, their unique life experiences, and their muses to write the songs that they are meant to write. By focusing on the process of creating a song that matters, as opposed to producing a well-constructed "widget from a song factory," songwriters will be able to establish their own voice and use it to make meaningful music.

Perfect for music lovers of all sorts who want to write songs, How to Write a Song That Matters is a one-of-a-kind-book that readers will turn to for guidance time and time again.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

How to Write a Song that Matters is part memoir, part notes from Williams' songwriting retreats for artists. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Hachette, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I've been a fan of the author's music for ages, and it's interesting (and a little gratifying) to know that the persona which comes through in a lot of her music really does reflect in her written work as well. This is a well written and realistic guide to facilitate readers tapping into their *own* creative processes and get the stuff that's inside to the outside in the form of a song/poetry/art.

There was a surprising (to me) amount of practical advice included from "what if I don't have facility with an instrument other than my voice" to "where can I find inspiration and know what it looks like when I find it". There's quite a lot of substantial pondering going on between the covers here.

The overarching chapters are possibly more straightforward than a lot of songs' genesis and are laid out more or less from beginning inspiration through writing and refining and finally to getting the song out into the world. It's a meandering process and Ms. Williams recognizes that in the text with humor and wit (and a stiff dose of practicality).

Four stars. I can imagine that the sonwriter retreats are a positive influence on the participants and well worth experiencing. Now a much wider audience has the same benefits.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

How to Write a Song that Matters

by Dar Williams

Reviewed by annieb123 on Oct 31, 2022

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